Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

NEW HAVEN (Continued from page 53) mount salesman, sporting a brand new Buick sedan. The Brooklawn, opened Friday by Mrs. Dombi and John jr., will have a 20 cent admission . . . When the Star, New Milford, reopens after entire reconstruction and enlargement, it will be known as the Twentieth Century. Warner exchange employes liked that week’s salary bonus all around at the termination of the Drive. The Colonial, Southington, is using a new system for its patrons’ parking space . . . A charge of ten cents is made, receipt given, which if presented the same day at the boxoffice entitles the holder to a ten cent deduction on admission price. Visitors in town: Ben Kalmenson, new Warner Bros, district manager, dropped in to see John Pavone who worked under him in Albany for a short time three years ago . . . William Sharp, new eastern ad sales manager, in for a confab at the Paramount office . . . Frank Fielding, RKO school contact man, given a rousing welcome at the Radio office. The Albert Smiths will open the Tower, Walnut Beach, on July 1 for the summer season, running the house in addition to the year-round Colonial. Nathan Lamport has bought Bank Night for the new Glastonbury house, to begin June 30 . . . The Johnson refrigerator deal has also been installed. Sympathy to Eva Cooperstack, Universal booker, who recently lost her father. The record of Paramount Theatre ushers who “made good” includes Harry Botwick, now manager of the M. & P. house in Portland: Chris Joyce, manager of the Regent, Norwalk: Stanley Redmond, now assistant at the Allyn, Hartford, and Russell Newton, assistant at the Crown, New London. The awards of the $15,000 ad-writing contest conducted by the Hartford Times were made at Loew’s Poli, after the regular show, pushing attendance way up. Yale drama students will be touring New England with a farce called “Aunt Emma Is a Horse” this summer . . . And Ben Cohen is offering his original play, “Box Office,” with a cast including Marion Bergeron, once Miss America, Doris Vinton, former Follies queen, and possibly Albie Booth to theatres, stock companies, etc. Jack Simons of the Poli, Hartford, was chosen this year as the “person outstanding in the theatre world’’ who annually makes the award for the best performance of the season by a member of the Little Theatre. Ben Rogers, GB manager who is replaced here by Carl Goe, is reported to be working in Boston. "ANNIE LAURIE" TO THIRD WEEK'S RUN Boston — George Kraska has held “Annie Laurie” for a third consecutive week at the Fine Arts Theatre where it is now running its premiere booking on this continent. Kraska, operator of the house which is leased from Loew’s, also owns distribution rights for the Scottish film in this country. Physical handling is being done by World Picture in New York. Attendance has been heavy, particularly due to the tieups made with local clans by the theatre man. Jennings Joins Republic Boston — Jack Jennings, long a salesman for Fox and other distributors in New England, has been appointed to the sales force of Republic in New England. Jennings, who has been assigned the Maine territory, started working this week. He fills a vacancy made indirectly by the resignation of Steve Broidy who left Republic to become treasurer and general manager of Monogram in this territory. Howes Neck Change Boston — Louis Lesser has taken over the Taylor Ballroom Theatre at Howes Neck, Mass., for operation as a motion picture house. Lesser was formerly in charge of Century sales in New England. He plans to open the situation June 13. At the present time he is on the outlook for an experienced 16 mm. operator. Lesser is making his headquarters at 14 Stanwood St., Roxbury. Monogram Ups O'Brien Boston — Thomas O’Brien was last week named booker for Monogram in Boston by General Manager Steve Broidy. O’Brien has long been with Universal. Thomas Hill, who resigned as Imperial booker to go with Monogram, will be head shipper at the Church St. exchange. ALLIED CONVENTIONEERS RETURN Boston — The conventioneering Independent Exhibitors have returned to their Boston baked beans. Arthur K. Howard, Nathan Yamins, Dan Murphy and Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Peterson made the trip to Milwaukee for the Allied meeting last week. THEATRE CHANGES Boston — Theatre changes as reported by the Film Board of Trade: Transfers: Valley Falls, R. I., Roosevelt (t’ornieiiy Shea’s), to Louis Frey. Middlebury, Vt., Opera House to Fred Sharhy circuit, I. O. O. F. Hall, West Buxton, Me., to Colby Robinson. Horticultural Hall, Manchester by the Sea, Mass., to Edward Safrine. Egleston, Roxbury, Mass., to M. & P. circuit. State, E. Milton, Mass., to M. & P. circuit. OpeningTs: Tegu, Morrisville, Vt. Town Hall, Isleboro, Me. Barn. Hampton, N. H. Closingfs: Orange Hall, Hampton, N. H. New Theatres: Town Hall, Poultney, Vt. BOSTON (Continued from preceding page) his craft, is sometimes known as the Marco Polo of projectionists. Mrs. Lou Richmond, wife of the manager of the National in Boston, has returned to her home from the hospital after a slight operation. E. M. Loew, owner of New England’s largest independent theatre circuit, will close the Music Hall in Pawtucket on the first of the month, according to present plans. Harold Davidson, DeForest divisional engineer, has been keeping on job despite a touch of grip. The mother of Mary Grey, of the E. M. Loew main office at 216 Tremont St., returned home last week from a hospital stay. Sa7n Kurson, operator of the Graphic Theatre circuit, has opened the Campus Theatre in the college town of Middlebury, Vermont. Morris Nunes, New England premiums distributor whose local representative is Burt Lazarus, left New Haven last week for a Maine sojourn. Lillian Cushing of the Boston office of National Screen Service celebrated her second wedding anniversary Thursday of last week. Melvin Riley, ex-Brockton Theatre operator, is said to be planning to open a flim house in Rockport. W. A. Scully, M-G-M executive, was conferrmg with Maurice N. Wolf in Boston last week. Morris Safner, Massachusetts theatre owner, was booking in Boston last Thursday. Herman Rifkin, Republic distributor in Bostoii and Netv Haveii and national officer of the concern, is expected back in the Hub July 15 after a sales conference in California and New York. Helen Eager, motion picture editor of the Boston Traveler, has been released from the hospital following an appendix removal. George Holland, columnist on the Boston Anieriean, is still confined to his hospital cot because of a fractured leg. Jack Granara, publicity manager for the RKO theatres in this territory, plans to spend the weekend in New York. Brooks Montgomery and Do?iald MacNeill, Harvard sophomores, have been given M-G-M contracts. Benny Goodman, swinging it royally at the Metropolitan last week, was tendered a press party in the Roosevelt Room at the Touraine, as well as a bit of a fete at the Ritz Carlton. Goose Goslin, who swings them for the big league, was one of the guests at the former affair. Martha Ferris, New England secretary for the Film Board of Trade, spent the holiday weekend in Maine. BOXOFFICE :: June 5, 1937. 55